Four Sisters Winery

Four Sisters Winery is a family-operated winery located at Matarazzo Farm in White Township, Warren County, New Jersey, with a Belvidere mailing address. The business grew out of a produce farm established by Italian immigrants in 1921. Matarazzo Farm was historically associated with strawberry cultivation and seasonal farm visits, and it continues to maintain agricultural activities alongside the winery, including apple and pumpkin orchards. Robert "Matty" Matarazzo and Laurie Matarazzo began developing the winery in 1981 as a way to create additional family income and help fund the college education of their four daughters. The vineyard was first planted that year, and the property opened to the public in 1984. The name Four Sisters refers to the couple's daughters, and wines have been named after each of them. The winery is recognized as the third-oldest winery in New Jersey. The founders developed their winemaking knowledge through outside consultation and practical training. Laurie apprenticed with Nathan Stackhouse, a South Jersey winemaker with formal winemaking training, while Matty sought advice from grape growers in Sonoma County, California. The family invested in winery infrastructure and equipment imported from Italy. Over time, winemaking became the principal focus of the operation rather than simply an adjunct to the produce farm. Four Sisters produces wines from a broad range of cold-climate and hybrid grapes suited to New Jersey conditions. Reported varieties include Baco noir, Catawba, Cayuga White, Chambourcin, Concord, Delaware, Frontenac, Léon Millot, Marechal Foch, Marquette, Niagara, Seyval blanc, Traminette, and Vidal blanc. It also makes fruit wines from apples, blueberries, cherries, pumpkins, raspberries, and strawberries. The winery has been particularly associated with Delaware, Léon Millot, and Marquette, cold-tolerant red hybrid grapes that are less commonly used by New Jersey wineries. The visitor experience extends beyond wine production. Four Sisters hosts tastings and seasonal events, including grape-stomping activities, and participates in New Jersey wine festivals. During the fall harvest period, visitors can take part in apple and pumpkin picking and use a corn maze. A bakery sells pies and other food products, linking the winery to the wider farm business. The property therefore operates as a winery, farm attraction, seasonal retail destination, and event venue. The winery is situated within the Warren Hills American Viticultural Area. According to reference material, it has approximately eight acres planted to grapes and has produced about 5,000 cases of wine annually; an earlier account reported production of approximately 12,000 gallons per year and 23 wine flavors by 2003. These figures are historical or reported operating measures rather than independently verified current financial disclosures. Four Sisters holds a plenary winery license from the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The license framework permits broad wine production, multiple off-premises sales rooms, and limited direct shipment to consumers under applicable New Jersey and interstate rules. Four Sisters is associated with the Garden State Wine Growers Association and Vintage North Jersey. It has also operated retail outlets in Morristown and Phillipsburg, New Jersey. Laurie Matarazzo later retired from the winery and became an Episcopal priest, while Matty continued managing the business with the assistance of full-time managers and part-time staff. The family has indicated that the four daughters were not expected to take over the operation, leaving the winery's long-term succession structure unclear.

Matarazzo Farm traces its agricultural roots to 1921, when the Italian immigrant Matarazzo family established a produce operation in Warren County, New Jersey. The farm became known for strawberry cultivation, drawing large numbers of seasonal visitors during the harvest. Apples, pumpkins, and other agricultural activities later remained part of the property's identity. In 1981, Robert "Matty" Matarazzo and his wife, Laurie, planted the first vineyard on the farm and began building a winery. Their objective was both commercial and familial: they wanted to diversify farm income and contribute toward the college expenses of their four daughters. The resulting business was named Four Sisters Winery after those daughters. The founders acquired technical knowledge in different ways. Laurie apprenticed with Nathan Stackhouse, a South Jersey winemaker who held a master's degree in winemaking, while Matty consulted grape growers in Sonoma County, California. The couple also invested in winery equipment imported from Italy. The first harvest was made in 1984, the same year the winery opened to the public. This made Four Sisters one of New Jersey's earliest modern wineries and, according to the cited reference, the state's third-oldest winery. Winemaking gradually shifted from a supplemental farm activity to the central business. By 2003, the winery was reported to be producing about 12,000 gallons annually across 23 flavors. Its vineyard and product range emphasized varieties capable of performing in a cold-climate region, including hybrid grapes and traditional American varieties. Four Sisters also developed fruit wines using produce associated with the farm and surrounding agricultural economy. The business expanded its public-facing role through tastings, grape-stomping events, seasonal festivals, and harvest attractions. Apple picking, pumpkin picking, a corn maze, and a bakery complemented the wine operation and gave the property a broader agritourism profile. The winery participated in New Jersey wine festivals and maintained relationships with statewide wine-industry organizations. Four Sisters operates in the Warren Hills American Viticultural Area. Reference material describes roughly eight acres of grapes and annual output of approximately 5,000 cases, although the date and methodology of that case figure are not specified. The winery also holds a plenary winery license under New Jersey's alcoholic-beverage-control system. That license provides substantial production and retail flexibility, subject to applicable regulatory requirements, including the operation of off-premises sales rooms and direct-to-consumer shipping limits. Laurie eventually retired from winery work and became an Episcopal priest. Matty continued running the enterprise with a management team consisting of full-time and part-time employees. The four daughters have had wines named for them but reportedly have not planned to assume control of the winery. Four Sisters has operated additional outlets in Morristown and Phillipsburg and remains closely connected to Matarazzo Farm's agricultural and visitor businesses.

• 2003

  Reported expansion of wine range

  [1]Four Sisters Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The winery was reported to be producing approximately 12,000 gallons of wine annually in 23 flavors.

• 1984

  First harvest and public opening

  [1]Four Sisters Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Four Sisters completed its first harvest and opened the winery to the public.

• 1981

  Vineyard planted and winery founded

  [1]Four Sisters Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Robert and Laurie Matarazzo planted the first vineyard and began developing a winery to diversify farm income and support their daughters' education.

• 1921

  Matarazzo Farm established

  [1]Four Sisters Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The Matarazzo family established the produce farm that later became the agricultural foundation for Four Sisters Winery.

A heritage New Jersey farm winery combining locally adapted grape and fruit wines with agritourism, seasonal family activities, and direct visitor experiences.

• Wine

  Grape wines

  Four Sisters makes table and specialty wines from grape varieties suited to the Warren Hills region and other northeastern growing conditions. Reported grapes include Baco noir, Catawba, Cayuga White, Chambourcin, Concord, Delaware, Frontenac, Léon Millot, Marechal Foch, Marquette, Niagara, Seyval blanc, Traminette, and Vidal blanc. The range combines American varieties, French-American hybrids, and cold-hardy grapes.

• Fruit wine

  Fruit wines

  The winery produces fruit-based wines using agricultural products associated with the farm and the region. Reported ingredients include apples, blueberries, cherries, pumpkins, raspberries, and strawberries. These products broaden the portfolio beyond conventional grape wine and reinforce the property's farm-oriented identity and seasonal appeal.

• Agritourism and food

  Farm and bakery products

  Matarazzo Farm continues to offer agricultural and visitor-oriented products alongside the winery. Seasonal activities include apple and pumpkin picking, while the bakery sells pies and other food. These offerings support Four Sisters' role as a destination rather than solely a packaged-wine producer.

• 1984

  Public launch of Four Sisters WineryProduct launch

  Background

  After the vineyard was planted in 1981 and the family developed production capabilities, the business was ready for its first commercial harvest.

  Action taken

  Four Sisters completed its first harvest and opened the winery to visitors.

  Aftermath

  The operation became one of New Jersey's earliest modern wineries and built a business around direct visitor engagement, tastings, and seasonal farm activities.

  Source

• 1981

  Farm diversification through winemakingStrategy

  Background

  The Matarazzos sought additional income from their produce farm and a way to help finance their four daughters' college education.

  Action taken

  They planted a vineyard, developed winery infrastructure, consulted outside specialists, and began producing wine under the Four Sisters name.

  Aftermath

  Winemaking eventually became the principal focus of the farm business and developed into a public winery and agritourism destination.

  Source

1. 1Four Sisters Wineryen.wikipedia.org